Field Physics

Chapter 4: Hypothesis: Opposites Attract?

The morning sun streamed through the tall windows of Lydia's lab, casting long, warm beams across the equipment-strewn tables. Lydia stood by her desk, shuffling through a stack of notes and adjusting her glasses as she scanned through some figures. Today was the day she'd start taking real measurements for her research, and she was determined to make the most of Sam's time. She hadn't expected to be working with him of all people, but now that they were here, she wanted it done right.

At precisely 9:00 a.m., Sam strolled in, grinning like he owned the place. He wore his typical gym clothes, paired with his familiar, lopsided smile—a mix of casual charm and cocky confidence.

"Good morning, Doctor Lydia," he greeted with a mock salute, winking as he took in her furrowed brow.

She didn't look up from her clipboard, but a small, reluctant smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Doctor? I'm still in undergrad, genius."

"Could've fooled me," he replied, taking a seat on the nearest lab stool, spinning a bit as he sat down. "You've got that whole 'I'm-about-to-make-a-scientific-breakthrough' vibe going on. Also, you're already stressing me out, and I haven't even started yet."

Lydia rolled her eyes, her smile becoming harder to hide. "Funny, because you're already annoying me, and you haven't even done anything."

"Oh, come on," he protested, leaning forward with an exaggerated look of innocence. "Give me a chance! I haven't even begun my 'science experiment' phase yet."

"Let's see if we make it that far," she muttered, turning to adjust some settings on a machine next to her desk. Despite herself, Lydia felt a strange ease around Sam's casual charm—it was impossible not to feel disarmed by his goofy sincerity, even if he insisted on being such a ham.

"All right, listen up," she said, trying to bring the mood back to business. "Today's agenda: I'm testing your endurance by monitoring your oxygen levels during exercise. That way, I can determine your energy efficiency and how it changes over time."

Sam blinked, staring at her blankly for a beat too long. "Wait, so... you're saying you're measuring how much I breathe?"

She stifled a laugh, rolling her eyes again. "In a way, yes. But I'm using it to calculate your stamina and efficiency. It'll give us some insights into how you can perform at peak levels without gassing out."

He snapped his fingers, grinning. "So you're basically helping me become a super-athlete. Love it."

"Yes, Sam," Lydia said dryly, flipping a page on her clipboard, "let's go with that."

She handed him a small monitor to strap around his chest, and Sam hesitated, glancing between it and her with an almost pleading look. "Uh... I don't suppose you could—"

"Oh no, don't even ask," she cut in, smirking. "It goes around your ribs, and you're capable of putting it on yourself. I'm not doing all the work for you, Mr. Superstar."

With a defeated sigh and a dramatic groan, Sam struggled for a moment with the straps, fumbling clumsily before finally securing the monitor around his chest. Lydia watched with quiet amusement, leaning back on her desk as she tried to keep a straight face.

"There," he said, giving her a triumphant look. "See? I'm all set. Now what?"

Lydia walked over and handed him a small, very nerdy-looking headpiece with a little clip meant to attach to his nose. Sam stared at it, his expression somewhere between horror and resignation.

"Uh... what is that?"

"It's just a nasal clip," she explained, biting back a smile. "It keeps your breathing consistent so I can monitor your airflow accurately. Try not to freak out; it won't make you look as ridiculous as you think."